Gaining a lot of weight, especially in a short time span, will wreak psychological havoc on even the most confident among us.
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Unfortunately, that’s what happened to Boise, Idaho, resident Maddie Zahm, who was diagnosed with a hormone imbalance, polycystic ovary syndrome, during her senior year in high school. After gaining more than 100 pounds in a single year, she almost completely withdrew from the world.
Maddie lost her confidence, her friends, and she says, “I even lost music there for a while.” Thankfully, she found her saving grace in an unlikely friend.
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During her recent audition on “American Idol,” Maddie confessed, “I felt like I couldn’t perform because I was just so embarrassed of who I was.”
But around that same time, her life changed in another way: She accidentally walked into a music class for students with disabilities, and there she met Marcus, a kid with Down syndrome who happened to be singing a Katy Perry song.
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That was the best mistake I ever made because there was just this incredible human being just standing up, singing a Katy Perry song, and I just knew that he was someone that I needed to meet. I could sense that he could use a friend, too.
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The two became fast friends – such good friends, in fact, that Marcus accompanied Maddie to her “Idol” audition. The 19-year-old introduced herself to the judges, and during the course of the conversation, mentioned that Marcus, her best friend of six years, had come with her for moral support.
Inspired, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie invited him to join them at their table, and moments later, the two best friends walked across the stage holding hands!
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Safely ensconced between Katy and Lionel, Marcus sat at attention as Maddie stood onstage, strumming her guitar and singing her rendition of Dua Lipa’s “New Rules.â€
To say that Maddie has a voice is an understatement… in fact, Katy’s expression pretty much says it all!
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After she was done with her impressive solo audition, the judges insisted on an encore, but this performance came in the form of a duet with Marcus!
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Maddie and her bestie sang their version of Katy’s song, “Firework,”and naturally, she got herself a ticket to Hollywood!
Listen to the backstory of Maddie’s heartfelt friendship with Marcus, and their incredible audition, in the video below. Share to spread the love for this beautiful young woman – both inside and out!
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